Joe Bonamassa deserved that extra little bounce to his step Saturday night at the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse.

The 31-year-old blues-rock guitarist, singer and songwriter did everything he could to take ownership of a concert that he considered a homecoming.

The native of Utica-area suburb New York Mills and his top-flight band of Carmine Rojas on bass, Rick Melick on keyboard and Bogie Bowles on drums started the frigid night with the scorching hot title cut of Bonamassa's ninth solo album, "The Ballad of John Henry," which just came out on Tuesday.

And they kept getting hotter, finely combining earlier work, such as the anguished "Sloe Gin," with vivid new songs, such as the deep "The Great Flood."

On this third show of a tour that celebrates his 20th anniversary as a professional musician, Bonamassa is a man at the top of his game. In the restored movie palace an hour's drive down the Thruway from where he grew up, Bonamassa thrilled family, friends and fans with personable showmanship, rich vocals and, most impressively, guitar work fast, fiery and pristine.